Announcement of the Department of Fisheries containing rules on standards of hygiene for fish landing sites and fish trading centers and criteria for hygiene certification.

These Rules, issued by the Director-General of the Department of Fisheries under section 98 of the Fisheries Ordinance of 2015, concern certification by an appointed assessor of hygienic conditions regarding the handling of and trading in live fish and aquatic animals. The assessor shall, after application by an operator in accordance with these Rules, carry out an inspection and draw up a report of results of the inspection. The assessor shall evaluate and inspect the accredited establishments at least once a year for renewal of certification/accreditation. Section 98 stipulates that it shall be a duty of the Department of Fisheries to develop hygiene standards relating to the catching, caretaking, and processing of aquatic animals, and the storage, transportation or transshipment of aquatic animals and animal products, which are to be promoted among fisheries entrepreneurs so that they apply such standards in their business operations in order to obtain aquatic animals and aquatic animal products that guarantees a quality level with respect to hygiene standards and safety for consumers. The determination of standards pursuant to paragraph one shall be in line with international standards. For the purposes of promoting and encouraging fisheries entrepreneurs to conform to standards pursuant to paragraph one, the Director-General or a person assigned by the Director-General shall issue a certificate to an applicant who has attained such standards as requested. A request for a certificate pursuant to paragraph three shall be as prescribed by the Director-General.